Hiring Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

What do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive do?

• Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
• Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
• Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
• Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
• Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
• Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-6014.00.

What does it take to become one?

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET Job Zone 2, SVP (4.0 to < 6.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat for this role.

What do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive in 91 of the metro areas we publish data for. The median ranges from $37,080 to $62,940 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $46,950. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-6014.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest median any metro we publish data for pays secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive is $62,940 a year, place of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $12,588 to $18,882 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can an administrative assistant search fill?

Typically 23 to 35 days, and typically 2 to 3x faster than a contingency search, per our recruiting partner's published figures. Both are typical rather than guaranteed.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.